The Arizona Republic's Super 10 girls high school soccer rankings, Dec. 20, 2023
The Arizona high school winter soccer season is well underway with the first few weeks completed and to help get things started, The Arizona Republic looks at the 10 best teams at this early point of the season. We call it our Super 10 rankings for the 2023-24 season, which combines the 6A, 5A, 4A and 3A conferences. Here are the rankings as of Dec. 19, 2023:
Super 10
1. Phoenix Xavier Preparatory Gators (2-0-1)
Has beaten Tempe Corona del Sol (3-1) and Anthem Boulder Creek (7-0) so far this season. Drew Phoenix Desert Vista 0-0 in between their two wins. Taking a break from competition for the next few weeks. Begin their 6A title defense in the new year with a Jan. 9 game against Mesa.
2. Gilbert Perry Pumas (4-1-2)
The only loss this season came against a nationally-ranked program from Hawaii. Two draws came against schools from California. Beat Mesa Westwood (8-0) and Queen Creek (5-0) last week. Sophomore Saydie Herbert has six goals to lead the team. Has a crucial match against Phoenix Desert Vista coming up this week before a nearly three-week break from games.
3. Chandler Hamilton Huskies (8-1)
Won the Coyote Classic Soccer Tournament, taking down a slew of top teams. Lone loss on the season is to Phoenix Pinnacle on Dec. 7. Defeataed Gilbert (5-0) and Phoenix Sandra Day O’Connor (2-1) last week. The team has a mini-break from competition before getting back into it right after Christmas.
4. Phoenix Pinnacle Pioneers (6-2)
Beat the 5A defending state champions, Scottsdale Chaparral, in the second game of the season. Lost in the finals of the Coyote Classic to Hamilton 3-2. Junior forward Aynsley Nuckols leading the way with six goals to go along with senior forward Paige Harris’ five goals.
5. Chandler Basha Bears (10-0-1)
Off to a hot start. One of only two teams in Arizona to reach 10 wins this season (Yuma Gila Ridge). Picked up two big wins last week against Desert Vista and Boulder Creek. Two underclassmen setting the tone for the Bears with sophomore Maycee Holm (nine goals) and freshman Amy Tan (eight goals). Doesn’t play again until Jan. 10.
6. Queen Creek Casteel Colts (8-0-1)
Only game they haven’t won was a dramatic rematch of last year’s 5A title game against Chaparral, which ended in a 2-2 draw that required double overtime. Beat Chandler 3-0 last week. Faces a key stretch of games coming up: Goodyear Millennium, Perry and Basha. Senior Aria Cain has four goals in three games played.
7. Scottsdale Chaparral Firebirds (4-2-1)
Just beat Phoenix Arcadia (3-0) and Buckeye Verrado (2-0) last week after losing 1-0 to Hamilton in the Coyote Classic Tournament. Also lost to Pinnacle. Has three weeks off before starting 2024 with a game against Phoenix Mountain Pointe on Jan. 9.
8. Scottsdale Notre Dame Preparatory Knights (5-2)
Have responded well to their two losses on the season (Hamilton and Pinnacle) by winning three games in a row and two games in a row, respectively. Won games by a margin of 15-0 last week against Verrado and Peoria Centennial.
9. Phoenix Desert Vista Thunder (2-3-1)
Played the top team in the Super 10, Xavier Prep, to a 0-0 draw in their first week of the season and just beat Pinnacle 1-0 last week. Three losses have come to some of the best teams in the state: Hamilton, Scottsdale Notre Dame Preparatory and Basha.
10. Goodyear Millennium Tigers (7-1)
Opened the season with four straight wins before falling to Scottsdale Desert Mountain on Dec. 5. Have won three games in a row since then, beating Peoria Sunrise Mountain (1-0) and Surprise Willow Canyon (14-0) last week.
Others to watch: Sahuarita Walden Grove, Cave Creek Cactus Shadows, Desert Mountain, Chandler Arizona College Preparatory, Gilbert Christian, Queen Creek Benjamin Franklin, Phoenix Northwest Christian, Tucson Salpointe Catholic, Goodyear Desert Edge
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Arizona Republic's Super 10 girls HS soccer rankings, Dec. 20, 2023
